Could there be two Group of Five programs in the College Football Playoff this year?

At the start of the season, it seemed a crazy thought: But it’s also one close to playing out with the CFP field now at 12 teams and No. 19 James Madison (No. 25 in College Football Playoff rankings) doing its part by winning its first Sun Belt Conference championship game.

Knight also recorded the longest rush and longest touchdown score in the Sun Belt championship game with a 73-yard rushing touchdown on the first play of James Madison’s fourth drive of the night in the second quarter.

So, what’s now standing in the Dukes’ way of playing for a national championship?

Here’s what to know about whether James Madison can make the College Football Playoff, including what its path to the CFP looks like:

Can James Madison make College Football Playoff?

There’s a path for James Madison to make the College Football Playoff, but the Dukes need help.

They entered Week 15 needing two things to go in their favor to create the possibility of making the CFP, which historically has been dominated by Power Four conference programs. James Madison did its part with a win over Troy in the Sun Belt championship.

Now, the Dukes await to see whether they can get the help they need: a Duke win over No. 17 Virginia (No. 17 in College Football Playoff rankings) in the ACC championship game.

If the Blue Devils win the ACC, James Madison’s chances of getting into the CFP increase: A Blue Devils win would knock the Cavaliers from being one of the five highest-ranked conference champions, creating the possibility the Dukes could instead take their place.

That’s how James Madison could steal one of the other reserved for the highest-ranked conference champions, as it likely will be ranked behind another Group of Five conference champion — either No. 20 Tulane or No. 24 North Texas, of the American Conference — in the final bracket.

All told, James Madison’s CFP hopes are entirely dependent on whether Duke can win the ACC championship. Of course, there also is the possibility that the selection committee would jump Duke, unranked in the penultimate top 25 rankings, ahead of James Madison.

James Madison football ranking: Where are Dukes ranked in CFP top 25?

James Madison broke into the CFP top 25 rankings at No. 25 in the CFP selection committee’s penultimate rankings release on Tuesday, Dec. 2. It was the first time this season that the committee has included the Dukes in the rankings.

James Madison football schedule

Here’s a look at James Madison’s schedule in 2025:

• Saturday, Aug. 30: James Madison 45, Weber State 10
• Friday, Sept. 5: Louisville 28, James Madison 14
• Friday, Sept. 13: BYE
• Saturday, Sept. 20: James Madison 31, Liberty 13
• Saturday, Sept. 27: James Madison 35, Georgia Southern 10*
• Saturday, Oct. 4: James Madison 14, Georgia State 7*
• Saturday, Oct. 11: James Madison 24, Louisiana 14*
• Saturday, Oct. 18: James Madison 63, Old Dominion 27*
• Saturday, Oct. 25: BYE
• Tuesday, Oct. 28: James Madison 52, Texas State 20*
• Saturday, Nov. 8: James Madison 35, Marshall 23*
• Saturday, Nov. 15: James Madison 58,Appalachian State 10*
• Saturday, Nov. 22: James Madison 24,Washington State 20
• Saturday, Nov. 29: James Madison 59, Coastal Carolina 10*
• Friday, Dec. 5: James Madison 31, Troy 14 **

* Denotes Sun Belt game

** Denotes Sun Belt championship game

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Anthony Davis went to the ground and was clutching his left knee after a play in the third quarter of the Dallas Mavericks’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The apparent injury occurred as Davis tightly defended Thunder big man Chet Holmgren. Davis did get up under his own power and walked to the bench, but he repeatedly grabbed at the knee and he did not play the final six-and-a-half minutes of the third quarter.

The Prime Video broadcast showed Davis on the bench with his knee heavily wrapped.

Davis did return for the start of the fourth quarter, perhaps a bit of a surprise given the Mavericks were down by 30 points after three – but seeing him back on the court was certainly a welcome sign for Dallas.

The 10-time All-Star has struggled with a litany of injuries since being traded to the Mavericks, and he was having a tough game before the injury. He did not score in his first 20 minutes, going 0-for-6 from the field and missing both his free throws.

Davis finally did make a basket in the fourth quarter but that was it. He had two points on 1-for-9 shooting with eight rebounds and six assists. He played 24 minutes. Afterward, he told reporters he was ‘fine.’

Tulane took down North Texas with ease in the American Conference championship game on Friday, Dec. 5 — and made program history in the process.

The No. 21 Green Wave (No. 20 in College Football Playoff rankings) defeated the No. 20 Mean Green (No. 24 CFP) 34-21 at home. The win puts Tulane in strong position to earn its first CFP appearance in program history.

The Green Wave rushed for 199 yards and three scores on 52 carries as a team. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff passed for 145 yards and rushed for 49 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

Perhaps more impressively is the fact Tulane held star North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker in check, with the redshirt freshman completing 21 of 34 passes for 294 yards with two touchdowns to three interceptions. The Green Wave forced five turnovers, including a pick-6 by Chris Rodgers in the third quarter.

The question now is whether Tulane can leverage that win to reach the CFP with its conference championship win? Here’s a look at the Green Wave’s chances:

Tulane football rankings: Can Green Wave make CFP?

Tulane put itself in strong position to earn one of the five conference championship bids in the 12-team CFP bracket on Dec. 5.

North Texas and Tulane entered the matchup as the two highest-ranked non-Power Four teams in the CFP rankings, with No. 25 James Madison behind the two American programs. With Tulane picking up a ranked win in the American title game, it should have no issues staying ahead of the Dukes in the rankings.

James Madison could still make the CFP, although it likely needs Duke to beat Virginia in the ACC championship game. If JMU stays ranked higher than the Blue Devils, then two non-Power Four teams would make the CFP as the final two highest-ranked conference champions.

North Texas vs. Tulane was essentially a CFP play-in game, with the Green Wave likely moving on to compete for a national championship as the No. 11 or 12 seed.

Tulane football schedule 2025

• Saturday, Aug. 30: Tulane 23, Northwestern 3
• Saturday, Sept. 6: Tulane 33, South Alabama 31
• Saturday, Sept. 13: Tulane 34, Duke 27
• Saturday, Sept. 20: Mississippi 45, Tulane 10
• Saturday, Sept. 27: Tulane 31, Tulsa 14 *
• Saturday, Oct. 4: BYE
• Thursday, Oct. 9: Tulane 26, East Carolina 19 *
• Saturday, Oct. 18: Tulane 24, Army 17 *
• Saturday, Oct. 25: BYE
• Thursday, Oct. 30: UTSA 48, Tulane 26 *
• Friday, Nov. 7: Tulane 38, Memphis 32 *
• Saturday, Nov. 15: Tulane 35, Florida Atlantic 24 *
• Saturday, Nov. 22: Tulane 37, Temple 13 *
• Saturday, Nov. 29: Tulane 27, Charlotte 0 *
• Friday, Dec. 5: Tulane vs North Texas | ABC, 8 p.m. **

* indicates American Conference game

** indicates American Conference championship

JMU decided to insert themselves into the game during the first half by throwing snowballs at Troy’s Evan Crenshaw, who was forced to punt the ball from the end zone with 4:23 left in the first quarter. Crenshaw shanked the punt, just reaching the 34-yard line. The snowballs may have served as a distraction for Crenshaw, but no penalty was called. 

After expressing their concerns from the sidelines, James Madison’s athletic director, Matt Roan, had to ask the fans to stop.

“Officials and game management will throw a penalty,” Roan was seen saying on a microphone to the crowd. “Please stop throwing snow.”

A message also appeared on the video scoreboard that read: “Please be aware that the throwing of snowballs will result in immediate ejection from the game.”

James Madison managed to capitalize on the field position, kicking a field goal to take a 3-0 lead over Troy on a six-play, 11-yard drive.

Michael Jordan took the witness stand in the NASCAR antitrust trial Friday, Nov. 5.

His appearance lasted about an hour. While it is unlikely to be remembered as the most riveting 60 minutes of the case in federal court, it was at times both amusing and instructive, with Jordan providing some lighthearted moments but serious when addressing issues related to the case.

It was Jordan, the legendary basketball player, along with his co-owners of 23XI Racing and the owner of Front Row Motorsports that sued NASCAR. According to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, Jordan said of filing the lawsuit, “As a fan of the sport, it needed to be looked at from a whole different perspective. That’s why we’re here.”

“Look, we saw the economics wasn’t really beneficial to the teams,” Jordan testified, according to the Associated Press. ‘The revenue split was far less than any business I’ve ever been a part of. We didn’t think we’d ever get to what basketball was getting, but we wanted to move in that direction,’ he said

The proceedings on Friday completed the first week of the trial, which is expected to last two weeks, according to the Associated Press.

Jordan cracks joke during testimony

Jordan probably needed no introduction, but that’s not how it works in court.

“My name is Michael Jeffrey Jordan, and I grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina,’ he said by way of introduction, according to The Athletic.

Danielle Williams, an attorney representing 23XI Racing, asked Jordan to run through his career, according to The Athletic, which reported that Jordan mentioned his time with the Chicago Bulls but not his two years with the Washington Wizards.

According to The Athletic, that led to the following exchange:

“Did you play for any other teams?” Williams asked.

“I try to forget, but I did,” Jordan cracked.

Facts, figures and feelings

Jordan owns 60 percent of 23XI Racing and said he has invested approximately $35 to $40 million that includes $28 million for a charter, according to The Athletic. The charter has expired because in 2024 the racing team refused to sign the latest agreement with NASCAR.

Jordan did not suggest he wants to destroy NASCAR.

“The thing I’m hoping for is you create more of a partnership between two entities,” he said, according to The Athletic. “If that’s the case, it becomes a more valuable business. If you can ever compromise on the things that matter, you can grow your business.”

But Jordan addressed the decision to file the lawsuit.

“Someone had to step forward and challenge the entity to understand that it is a real concern from our aspect,” Jordan testified, according to Adam Stern of the Sports Business Journal.

‘Just getting started’

Five years later, the team has three Cup Series cars and has contended with the most successful teams in NASCAR.

The team’s top drivers, Tyler Reddick and Wallace, have won 10 races for 23XI. Reddick has won seven and made the final four of the 2024 playoffs. Both Reddick and Wallace made the playoffs this season but were eliminated in the round of 12.

‘As far as I’m concerned, we’re just getting started,’ Jordan said in October in a statement to USA TODAY Sports.

But with the case looming, 23XI Racing guaranteed its employees pay through 2026 to assuage any concerns.

Jordan’s love for NASCAR

Before he became a basketball star, Jordan was an avid NASCAR fan. According to the Associated Press, Jordan began attending races at 11 or 12 with his family – in their home state of North Carolina but also at the Darlington Raceway in South Carolina and Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.

“We called it a weekend vacation,” Jordan said, according to the Associated Press.

Initially, Jordan said his favorite driver, like his father, was Richard Petty. But eventually he changed allegiances to Cale Yarborough.

“The original No. 11; Sorry, Denny,” Jordan testified as Hamlin watched from the gallery, according to the AP.

Hamlin, Jordan’s co-owner, drives the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. The name 23XI refers to Jordan’s famous jersey number and the Roman numeral for 11, Hamlin’s number. 

The draw for the the 2026 World Cup draw is complete and now everyone knows the groups for this summer’s event to be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

This World Cup is expanding with 48 countries participating after the previous quadrennial event in Qatar in 2022 had 32 teams. The field will feature perennial powers Brazil, Germany, Argentina and France. Italy has not yet qualified (more on that below). The event will feature newcomers and a return of some familiar countries that have been been missing recently.

The 48 teams will be split into 12 groups of four with each team playing one game against other three group members. The top two teams in the group will advance along with the eight third-place teams with the highest point totals. Those 32 teams will play knockout games until the winner is decided on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Not all groups have an equal balance of teams. The draw separates the 48 teams in four pots of 12. Pot 1 features the three host nations and the nine highest teams in FIFA rankings. The next 12 best-ranked teams are in pot 2 and followed by the next 12 in pots 3. Pot 4 has the six lowest-ranked qualified teams and then six spaces for teams still yet to qualify in the playoff round in March. This structure creates some difficult groups and some that should be smooth sailing for contenders. Which are the hardest and easiest? We rank them below.

Group I

Whichever group had Norway and goal-scoring machine Erling Haaland was always going to be one of the toughest groups, but putting them with France – the champions from 2018 and finalists from 2022 – and a strong Senegal team makes for big challenge that could knock one team of knockouts. Including Haaland, this group has a ton of star power with France’s Kylian Mbappé and Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and Senegal’s Sadio Mane.

Group L

The draw did no favors to England as it looks to finally end its World Cup drought. Croatia would have been a pot 1 team without the hosts occupying three spots. The Luka Modric-led group has been to a final in 2018 and semifinals in 2022. Ghana is a dangerous team with enough European quality to cause problems. Panama will need to play above its head to advance. Still, the English are so full of talent that it should get out of this group.

Group B

Group E

Germany has taken a step back from its golden days when it routinely advanced deep in the tournament. Unless manager Julian Nagelsmann can get things sorted, this is a challenging group with Ecuador finishing South American qualifying second in the table and Ivory Coast – the reigning African champions. Curacao will enjoy the experience of playing in their first tournament.

Group A

Group C

Brazil and Morocco might be the two best-matched teams from pots 1 and 2. Brazil – despite all its talent – has struggled through qualifying. Carlo Ancelotti is now firmly entrenched as the new manager, and he has six months to galvanize the group. Morocco is full of European players and made the semifinals in Qatar. It won’t catch anyone by surprise this time around. Scotland is a bit of a step behind those two after a memorable qualifying run. They could cause problems with their defense. Haiti shouldn’t pose much of a problem.

Group H

This is a top-heavy group with Spain and Uruguay, two teams that have combined to win multiple World Cups. Spain is off winning the Euros in 2024 and has depth to endure a long tournament. Uruguay should sail through and could win the group with a strong group of European players, notably Frederico Valverde and Ronald Araujo of Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde have an uphill fight.

Group K

Portugal is still seeking its first World Cup and this will be Cristiano Ronaldo last run with the team. This group won the Nation’s League this past summer and is full of elite talent. There might be a test from Columbia, a rising group that has Bayern Munich’s Luis Diaz as one of its leaders. DR Congo would be a possible challenger to the top two if it wins its playoff with Uzbekistan unlikely to have enough firepower to make much of dent.

Group D

The United States last hosted in 1994 and rode a wave of emotion into the knockout rounds. Expect a similar advantage for a group that had some early bumps with new manager Mauricio Pochettino but has had a strong fall – albeit without some of the established stars. It’s a pretty friendly draw with Australia and Paraguay along with a playoff winner from Europe, though Turkey could present a challenge if it advances. Look for the U.S. to qualify and Paraguay and the playoff winner to be a threat.

Group J

Defending champion Argentina with Lionel Messi likely making his final World Cup appearance has the motivation to make a deep run again. They get a pretty easy group with Algeria and Austria fighting it out for second, and Jordan coming last. But crazy things happen at the World Cup. It’s worth remembering Argentina lost its opener in Qatar to Saudi Arabia.

Group G

Belgium failed to get out its group last time. It would be a disaster for a squad with Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and a healthy Romalu Lukaku to miss the knockouts with this easy setup. Egypt does have Mohamed Salah, who has been off form with Liverpool, and could threaten. Iran and New Zealand are a step or two behind the others and might fight for a third-place spot.

Group F

Netherlands – one of the biggest soccer powers not to win the World Cup – couldn’t have asked for a much better path out of the group. Japan is a dangerous team with its unique style of play, but Tunisia and the European playoff winner – likely Ukraine or Poland – should be manageable.

Kennesaw State is one of the feel-good stories of the 2025 college football season. And the story got even better Friday night. Behind first-yer coach Jerry Mack the Owls had already made a seven-win jump this season. On Friday, they added a Conference USA Championship game win in just the program’s second year in FBS.

‘A team that was 2-10, to turn it around and win 10 football games in one year. What a difference a year makes,’ Mack said postgame. ‘Who does that? Where I’m from, they say, ‘Where you at?”

A goal-line stand. A kicker forcing a fumble. A safety. A last-minute touchdown to win.

The CUSA Championship game had a little bit of everything — except some big-time offense. Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State entered Friday’s game averaging a combined 59 points per game. We didn’t get anywhere close to that, in Kennesaw State’s 19-15 win in Jacksonville, Alabama.

Kennesaw State (10-3) bottled up Jax State running back Cam Cook, the nation’s leading rusher. But Gamecocks’ QB Caden Creel hurt the Owls with his legs, rushing for 112 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown with 4:40 in the fourth quarter to give Jax State (8-5) its first lead.

But then KSU QB Amari Odom engineered a game-winning drive that included a 4^th-and-14 conversion and a 26-yard completion on 3^rd-and-27 that set up another 4^th-down conversion. With 50 seconds left, Odom hit Navelle Dean in the end zone for a touchdown  and the 19-15 win.

Here’s how it happened.

Kennesaw State vs Jax State football score

FINAL: Kennesaw State 19, Jacksonville 15

0:51 4Q: Kennesaw State 19, Jacksonville State 15

Kennesaw State gets into Jax State territory on its final drive and on 4th-and-14, KSU decides to go for it instead of attempting a 54-yard field goal potential tying field goal… and QB Amari Odom is flushed to his left and gets a massive first down pickup. Plus an unnecessary roughness, late hit penalty.

Odom then hits Navelle Dean for an 11-yard TOUCHDOWN. Really bold call from Jerry Mack on that 4th-and-14. Tip of the cap, sir.

2:00 4Q: Jacksonville State 15, Kennesaw State 12

Amari Odom hits Christian Moss down the middle on 3rd-and-27. He got 26 yards. 4th-and-1 when we come back from 2-minute timeout. Drama.

4:04 4Q: Jacksonville State 15, Kennesaw State 12

Caden Creel’s legs continue to drive Jax State forward. On 4th-and-2 at midfield, Creel runs for seven yards to keep drive alive. And then he breaks loose for a 19-yard touchdown run and the Gamecocks’ first lead of the game. Looks like Jax State got away with a false start on the touchdown play, no call.

On the 2-point conversion to take a three-point lead, Creel hits 6-8 receiver Deondre Johnson in the corner of the end zone. Smart. He’s tall. And makes a great grab.

8:20 4Q: Kennesaw State 12, Jacksonville State 7

Not a great sequence for Kennesaw State. Coleman Bennett loses two yards on first down. Then a 3-yard pass is followed up by a sack and loss of nine yards. Punt back to Jax State. Momentum is swinging.

10:20 4Q: Kennesaw State 12, Jacksonville State 7

TOUCHDOWN! Jax State’s best offense hasn’t been the nation’s leading rusher, but the legs of quarterback Caden Creel. Creel has 84 yards on 12 carries, but Cam Cook finally finds some room and walks into the end zone with a 1-yard score. Gamecocks turn the fumble into points. Needed that.

12:24 4Q: Kennesaw State 12, Jacksonville State 0

Oh my! On the free kick after the safety, Jax State kicker Garrett Rippa makes a big play, forcing a fumble on the return. Kennesaw State’s Davis Bryson had a good return going before the kicker came up with the goods. The ball was jarred loose on the hit, popped into the air and recovered by the Gamecocks. Just the break they needed.

12:33 4Q: Kennesaw State 12, Jacksonville State 0

SAFETY. Marcus Patterson tackles Cam Cook in the end zone for two points for the Owls. So the gamble to go on fourth down doesn’t come back to bite Kennesaw State. Cook, the nation’s leading rusher, has 35 yards on 14 carries.

12:40 4Q: Kennesaw State 10, Jacksonville State 0

Amari Odom tries a QB sneak on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line and gets stuffed. Play is under review to see if he was pushed into the end zone before his forward progress was stopped. A massive play. If he’s in, KSU takes a three-score lead. But review upholds the call, short. It stays a two-score game. Jacksonville State ball in shadow of their own end zone.

End 3Q: Kennesaw State 10, Jacksonville State 0

Owls will begin the fourth quarter in Jax State territory and looking for a knockout blow.

4:31 3Q: Kennesaw State 10, Jacksonville State 0

A missed field goal from 35 yards out for Jax State. Gamecocks still scoreless. Worth a reminder: JSU is Conference USA’s top scoring offense (30.2 ppg).

9:57 3Q: Kennesaw State 10, Jacksonville State 0

Britton Williams hits a field goal from 38 yards out to extend the Owls’ lead. Amari Odom and Coleman Bennett did much of the heavy lifting on the first drive of the second half.

15:00 3Q: Kennesaw State 7, Jacksonville State 0

KSU WR Gabriel Benyard didn’t come out for the second half. He took a brutal hit late in the first half that drew a targeting call. His is the Owls’ leading receiver on the season.

HALFTIME: Kennesaw State 7, Jacksonville State 0

A scary hit from Trevor Woods, who lays out defenseless Kennesaw State receiver Gabriel Benyard and gets called for targeting. Just a brutal hit. Woods is ejected for the hit.

With time winding out in the half, KSU QB Amari Odom is called for intentional grounding with comes with a 10-second runoff and the half is over.

An unexpected defensive battle.

6:49 2Q: Kennesaw State 7, Jacksonville State 0

Jax State QB Caden Creel scrambles for 34 yards on 3rd-and-25 and gets the Gamecocks in business. But on 4th-and-1 from the KSU 9-yard line, Cam Cook is stopped for a four-yard loss. Turnover on downs.

13:03 2Q: Kennesaw State 7, Jacksonville State 0

Coleman Bennett punches it in from three yards out to break the deadlock. An 11-play, 80-yard drive led by Amari Odom gives us our first points of the night.

End 1Q: Jacksonville State 0, Kennesaw State 0

Owls are driving into JSU territory, will have a 2nd-and-9 from the Gamecocks’ 35-yard line.

2:36 1Q: Jacksonville State 0, Kennesaw State 0

INTERCEPTION! A 10-play, 61-yard drive ends with a pick in the end zone. JSU QB Caden Creel is intercepted by Milon Jones.

7:47 1Q: Jacksonville State 0, Kennesaw State 0

We’re trading punts. That’s two punts for each team. It’s a slow burn tonight in Jacksonville.

11:17 1Q: Jacksonville State 0, Kennesaw State 0

Owls pick up a first down before the Gamecocks tighten up and force a punt.

13:42 1Q: Jacksonville State 0, Kennesaw State 0

We’re underway, and the Owls force a three-and-out to get us started.

What time does Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State football start?

• Date: Friday, Dec. 5
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• Where: AmFirst Stadium (Jacksonville, Alabama)

Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State will kick off at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 5 from AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama.

What TV channel is Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State on today?

• TV channel: CBS Sports Network
• Livestream: Fubo (free trial)

The C-USA championship game between Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which carries CBSSN and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Conference USA Championship game predictions

• Kennesaw State 31, Jacksonville State 27: Although Jacksonville State got the better of the Owls in their first matchup, Jerry Mack has shown his mettle this season. Kennesaw State is able to get the upper hand in this one with Amari Odom bouncing back from his three-interception outing in the first go-round. Protecting the ball gives the Owls the edge, and they avenge their one conference loss this season and cap off a monumental turnaround. — Kevin Skiver
• Jacksonville State 35, Kennesaw State 27: Despite losing coach Rich Rodriguez to West Virginia, Jacksonville State rolls to its second straight Conference USA championship behind a three-touchdown performance from running back Cam Cook to run his season total to 18. — Ehsan Kassim
• Kennesaw State 35, Jacksonville State 30: This one feels like a toss-up, but I’ll side with Kennesaw State getting its revenge against Jacksonville State and winning its first Conference USA title in just its second year as a member of the Division I FBS level. To do that, though, the Owls will need to be able to contain Jacksonville State running back Cam Cook, who ran for 132 rushing yards and a touchdown in the first meeting. — John Leuzzi

Conference USA Championship game betting odds

• Moneyline: Kennesaw State (-145)
• Spread: Kennesaw State (-2.5)
• Over/under: 60.5

Kennesaw State football schedule 2025

Here’s a look at Kennesaw State’s schedule in 2025, including past scores.

• Friday, Aug. 29: Wake Forest 10, Kennesaw State 9
• Saturday, Sept. 6: Indiana 56, Kennesaw State 9
• Saturday, Sept. 13: Kennesaw State 27, Merrimack 13
• Saturday, Sept. 20: Kennesaw State 28, Arkansas State 21
• Saturday, Sept. 27: Kennesaw State 24, Middle Tennessee 16*
• BYE
• Thursday, Oct. 9: Kennesaw State 35, Louisiana Tech 7*
• BYE
• Tuesday, Oct. 21: Kennesaw State 45, FIU 26*
• Tuesday, Oct. 28: Kennesaw State 33, UTEP 20*
• Saturday, Nov. 8: Kennesaw State 24, New Mexico State 21*
• Saturday, Nov. 15: Jacksonville State 35, Kennesaw State 26
• Saturday, Nov. 22: Kennesaw State 41, Montana State 34
• Saturday, Nov. 29: Kennesaw State 48, Liberty 42 (OT)*
• Friday, Dec. 5: Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State | CBS Sports Network**
• * – denotes Conference-USA game
• ** – denotes Conference-USA championship game

Jacksonville State football schedule 2025

Here’s a look at Jacksonville State’s schedule in 2025, including past scores.

• Thursday, Aug. 28: UCF 17, Jacksonville State 10
• Saturday, Sept. 6: Jacksonville State 34, Liberty 24*
• Saturday, Sept. 13: Georgia Southern 41, Jacksonville State 34
• Saturday, Sept. 20: Jacksonville State 45, Murray State 10
• Saturday, Sept. 27: Southern Miss 42, Jacksonville State 25
• BYE
• Thursday, Oct. 9: Jacksonville State 29, Sam Houston 27*
• Wednesday, Oct. 15: Jacksonville State 38, Delaware 25*
• BYE
• Saturday, Nov. 8: Jacksonville State 30, UTEP 27*
• Saturday, Nov. 15: Jacksonville State 35, Kennesaw State 26*
• Saturday, Nov. 22: FIU 27, Jacksonville State 21*
• Saturday, Nov. 29: Jacksonville State 37, Western Kentucky 34*
• Friday, Dec. 5: Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State | CBS Sports Network**
• * – denotes Conference-USA game
• ** – denotes Conference-USA championship game

Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you purchase through our links, the USA Today Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.

Miami and Notre Dame are both 10-2.

So why have the Fighting Irish consistently been above the Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff rankings?

Good question. One we haven’t really gotten a good answer from the CFP committee yet. Other than ‘eye test’ and ‘good losses.’

And who knows? Maybe both get left out of the CFP.

Despite lopsided wins the past two weeks, Notre Dame dropped to No. 10 in last week’s CFP rankings. Miami remained at No. 12, but because of the ACC’s wacky tiebreaker system, Duke (7-5) has a chance to play for the ACC championship Saturday, while Miami has to sit and wait until Sunday’s Selection Show at noon.

If BYU (No. 11 in the CFP) beats Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship game, it likely spells doom for the remaining at-large hopefuls. No. 9 Alabama could also grab a guaranteed CFP spot with a win over Georgia in the SEC Championship game. A lopsided Alabama loss may crack the door open for the Irish or Hurricanes.

It’ll be a nervy Sunday in South Bend and South Beach.

Making case for Notre Dame football in CFP

‘Cause for concern? Cautious optimism? Maybe both,’ writes South Bend Tribune columnist Tom Noie.

‘Welcome to Notre Dame’s uncertain future. Like that, what many figured was a lock ― Notre Dame one of the 12 teams to earn invitations to the 2025 College Football Playoff ― suddenly isn’t. There’s a chance Notre Dame might be left out… The committee likes Notre Dame. It’s always liked Notre Dame. You get the sense that it wants Notre Dame in the field.

‘We think Notre Dame deserves to be in the 12-team field. We think that Notre Dame is a handful of teams ― maybe no more than five ― with a legitimate chance to win a national championship. Notre Dame started 0-2, but Notre Dame got better. The defense went from dubious that night in South Florida to borderline dominant. Jeremiyah Love became the nation’s best running back. 

‘(Marcus) Freeman and his staff and his team believe they’re one of the 12 best teams in the country. They’re optimistic ― cautiously so in public, adamant in private ― that the selection committee will say the same. Even with that 0-2 start, Notre Dame got better, got confident and got rolling. It didn’t cling to what happened in Week 1. It went out and made it happen in Weeks 3 to 12.’

Notre Dame’s losses are considered ‘good losses’: to Texas A&M (No. 7 in CFP) and Miami. But if we’re giving credit to Notre Dame for losing to Miami, why aren’t we giving credit to Miami for beating Notre Dame?

Just weird.

Making a case for Miami in CFP

‘Putting Miami behind Notre Dame is the committee’s first head scratcher. Not a good look, or precedent. Not when the two have the same record (10-2) and a head-to-head result: Miami, 27-24,’ writes Tom D’Angelo of the Palm Beach Post.

‘Miami’s spot is more reflective of being the only team in the top 15 to lose twice to unranked teams (then and now) and beat two teams in the ACC with a winning record.’

The Hurricanes have won the past four games by an average score of 38-10, but can’t shake losses to Louisville and SMU in a three-week span before that.

The big albatross on Alabama’s resume is the season-opening 14-point loss to Florida State. Miami beat FSU, 28-22.

While Miami ranks highly in a lot of advanced metrics (ESPN has them No. 7 in FPI and No. 6 in its Game Control measurement), it sits at 14th in strength of resumé behind other bubble teams including BYU, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Texas and Notre Dame. The Hurricanes are also 44th in strength of schedule, close behind the No. 42 Irish but significantly farther behind fellow two-loss teams in Vandy (22), OU (12), Bama (11) and Texas (8).

But Notre Dame owns no wins against top-15 opponents. It feasted on a schedule that included last-place teams from three of the Power Four conferences.

“You get to settle it on the field, where head-to-head is always the No. 1 criteria,” Miami’s Mario Cristobal said.

Apparently not.

Palm Beach Post sports reporter David Rorabaugh contributed to this story.